Upper State Third Round Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third round in the Upper State playoff brackets had a little of everything.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was outstanding defense. There were a couple of explosive offenses on display. There was one unreal comeback, nearly another, and an overtime win by a field goal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And we've still got another round to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some guys who helped their teams punch their ticket to the state semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson']</strong> LB, Dorman - Anderson had a huge night leading Dorman's defense, with eight tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822665' first='Donovan' last='Anderson']</strong> added six tackles, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592369' first='Jordan' last='Darby']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818577' first='Aiden' last='Brown']</strong> had five each, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1708614' first='Jabez' last='Thomas']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816842' first='Jamier' last='Gaston']</strong> each had an interception as the Cavaliers held Ridge View to just 192 total yards, with 73 of those coming on the game's opening drive. Thomas and <strong>Carter Nash</strong> each ran for TDs, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means']</strong> rushed for two, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340230' first='Meek' last='Slydell']</strong> found <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818125' first='Kamdyn' last='Miller']</strong> with a TD pass for Dorman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734522' first='Mario' last='Anderson']</strong> LB, Dutch Fork - Facing a stout Byrnes defense, Anderson and his teammates turned up the defensive heat for the Silver Foxes as well. Anderson had six total tackles and a tackle for loss in the win, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1777821' first='Ethan' last='Moze']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592529' first='Julian' last='Walker']</strong> had four stops each. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823707' first='Sebastian' last='Lake']</strong> nabbed an interception, creating the game's only turnover as the Silver Foxes held Byrnes to just 117 total yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232624' first='Xavier' last='Means']</strong>&nbsp;QB, Northwestern - Means ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns, while going 13-of-19 for 180 yards and three&nbsp;touchdowns in the air in a wild 52-45 shootout win over Gaffney. Running back&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823340' first='Nigel' last='Smith']&nbsp;</strong>ran for 145 yards, averaging 8.1 yards per carry in the win as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia']&nbsp;</strong>QB, Indian Land - Kucia had a strong night in the Warriors' wild come from behind win over TL Hanna. He went 24-of-32 for 407 yards and three touchdowns. They had three receivers over 100 yards receiving:&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819992' first='Sequel' last='Patterson']&nbsp;</strong>(9 receptions, 141 yards, one touchdown),&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822507' first='Kenneth' last='Wilson']&nbsp;</strong>(6 receptions, 130 yards, one touchdown) and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris']&nbsp;</strong>(8 catches, 197 yards, two touchdowns).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819627' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence']</strong> ATH, South Pointe - Currence showed off just about every tool in the box as the Stallions thumped A.C. Flora. He threw for 229 yards and tossed touchdowns to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='930586' first='Dailan' last='Duncan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1660274' first='Tarion' last='Starnes']</strong>. He rushed for 101 yards and three of the Stallions' six touchdowns on the ground, with <strong>R.J. Brown</strong> adding two and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1816732' first='Rasean' last='Brown']</strong> adding another.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Malakhi Gibson</strong> K, Westside - You want a big spot for a freshman? How about a playoff game-winner in OT? That's exactly what Gibson gave the Rams, in addition to a crucial early onside kick that allowed Westside to lead 14-0 before Camden touched the ball. Both those scores came courtesy of runs by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822335' first='Keylan' last='Powell']</strong>, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1881741' first='Bear' last='Woods'] </strong>added another rushing TD for the Rams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149055' first='Nasir' last='Waldrop']</strong> RB, Powdersville - The Patriots' offense went wild in a 52-30 win over Mountain View Prep. Waldrop accounted for five total touchdowns, rushing for scores of 3, 38, 43, and 46 yards, and catching a 61-yard TD pass. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821270' first='Keagan' last='Reid']</strong> threw three total TDs, and<strong> Xavier Higgins</strong> caught two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1372151' first='Jakyri' last='Anderson']</strong> LB, Belton-Honea Path - The Bears held an explosive Woodruff offense under 150 total yards, and Anderson is a big part of the reason why. He had seven total tackles, two tackles for loss, a QB hurry, a fumble recovery, a pass deflection, and an interception return for a touchdown. Whew. He and the defense held the Wolverines down until <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1730056' first='Noah' last='Thomas']</strong>, <strong>MJ Earle</strong>, and the Bears offense started to pull away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18745369/69214ee4f72355dfa3288a3e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69232e1f4dcde"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820530' first='Deonte' last='Phillips']</strong> RB, Strom Thurmond - Phillips was a workhorse for the Rebels against Chester, rushing 21 times for 124 yards and three scores. He never broke a long one, with his longest of the night at 16 yards, but he gave the Cyclones a steady dose of grind-it-out offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818416' first='Zy' last='Rouse']</strong> added a score on the ground for Strom Thurmond, while <strong>Wytravious Dugar</strong> had 13 total stops and a tackle for loss to help lead a defensive effort that limited Chester to fewer than 200 offensive yards and just eight points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820348' first='Kaden' last='Diggs'] </strong>QB, Fairfield Central - Diggs (pictured) did it all in a 42-7 thumping of defending state champion Clinton in the third round. He completed 8-of-11 passes for 221 yards and threw three touchdowns to <strong>Tyquarius Shannon</strong> and another to <strong>ErDreus Walker.</strong> he added 99 yards and another score on the ground for the Griffins, who also got a rushing TD from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816746' first='Kenyan' last='Douglas']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822769' first='Jalen' last='Culp']&nbsp;</strong>QB, Lewisville - The Lewisville run game was key in their&nbsp;42-14 win over CA Johnson. Culp had rushing touchdowns of 12 and 19 yards for the Lions.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820262' first='Antonio' last='Price']&nbsp;</strong>ran for scores of 12-yard and 59 yards.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165159' first='Jordan' last='Strong']&nbsp;</strong>had a 23-yard rushing touchdown to close the scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce']</strong> QB, Lamar - Facing a stout HKT rushing defense, Lamar threw it around in a 44-22 victory. Pierce was the key, completing 8-of-14 passes for 263 yards and four scores, including two touchdown passes to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822293' first='Juju' last='Morris']</strong> and one each to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816096' first='Mont' last='Williams'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817566' first='Nygel' last='Eaddy']</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1422623' first='DQ' last='Green'] led the Silver Foxes' defense, with 14 total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18312708/6921c2c38c790f13abc349c8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69232e1f4dd19"} /-->